Jennifer Lawrence

The rumours swirling around Apple’s iWatch often mention the ability to measure some bodily functions, possibly in conjunction with that company’s Health Kit dashboard. Actually, there’s no need to wait for Apple or shell out for expensive new hardware. The age of the data-driven “Quantified Self” is upon us already. First, a caution. As I noted in a previous column (“Does your fitness monitor know too much?”), there are privacy risks in having intimate personal data collected and possibly shared with others. The recent leak of nude photos of dozens of celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence, reminds us that letting information out of our control can have consequences. But for now, let’s focus on the positive side of self-measurement, especially for guys.

This movie is called 122 Days of Summer — and so far, it doesn’t look good for a happy ending. With only two weeks left to haul in what normally accounts for 40 to 50 per cent of next year’s production costs, Hollywood’s seasonal box office remains soft. And with few big releases left in the wings, it shows no signs of immediate improvement.

Cynical viewers may assume that producers casting for reality TV work go with one basis rule: The crazier the better. But, as with most things, the process of producing that deliciously volatile mix of personalities is apparently far more of a science than it looks.